You know that such and such courses that you allow you selves in are sins and so your sins are not from weakness but wilfulness You know that Whoredom is a sin that prophaning Gods Sabbaths is a sin that Unbelief is a sin You can't plead ignorance here 3. God hath declared that your ignorance weakness shall be no expiation of his wrath Isa. 27.11 Hos. 4.6 6. You say you don't make such a profession of Godliness as some others do if you made a very great profession and did such things you are ready to think God would be very angry you do therefore condemn lesser evils in Church members and admire how they can be so insensible 1. Sin will damn them that don't make a profession as well as others God will damn Heathen for their Impenitency as well as Professors 2. You do so far make a profession that your sin will be aggravated You pray in your Families come and joyn in prayer and hearing the Word of God You do many things tho' not all commanded Duties you profess so high that your sin will cast you down as low as Hell if you repent not 3. By these things you incapacitate your selves from making a suitable profession Will saying that you lived in sins and wickedness that rendered you unfit for respecting all Gods Commandments prevent your being beaten with many stripes Luk. 12.47 7. Some will say that it s not in their power to change their own hearts and withstand temptation If they had sinned after such a sort had a power to have resisted temptations they think God would have been very severe but they can't change their own hearts 1. Because you can't do that which is not your work and what you can't won't you do what is your duty and what you can though you can't change your hearts you can reform your life Many that have no principle of grace reform their lives 2. 'T is in your power not to run your selves into temptations as you often do you may as well on an evening go into your Closet and confess your sin as go into bad company and bad places 3. 'T is your sin and madness then to provoke God not to help you Can't you repent of your selves and will you run away from God who only can Will you sin away his help from you He bids you turn and he will pour out his Spirit if you turn from him and will not cherish the motions of his Spirit you take a course to dye in your sins 8. 'T is your grief and sorrow that you do sin If you were not affected and sinned without remorse you conclude God would say shall not my Soul be avenged on such a Sinner But you are sorry you confess your sins with tears you can say you are grieved at heart for your sins you hope God will not be so exact with you 1. Some are grieved and sorrowful but 't is for the shame and punishment of their sins they acted as though they had no shame in them when their sins were hid from man but when men know of them they grieve and are sorrowful Shame and fear of punishment not the Violation of Gods law is the moving cause of some men and womens grief and sorrow 2. Your grief and sorrow won't quench hell fire nor wash away the stain of sin If you cry night and day and weep never so much yea you cover the Altar in this sense with tears God won't regard these are not the blood of Christ which only cleanseth from iniquity 3. Your sorrow and grief are but flattery dissimulation so long as you take no heed to reform You read of the Pharisees that they appeared to men to be sorrowful yea of those whose Fasts God abhorred though they made a very plausible show of sorrow because they did not reform sayes God Will you call this a fast and an acceptable day to the Lord Isa. 58.3 8. 9. You say you were sollicited drawn in and over perswaded by others to these sins if you had enticed others you had been very much to blame but for your part you had no intention not a thought in your heart to do such wickedness but others would give you no quiet till you make one with them and so you impute it to your being good natured and willing to gratifie others rather than to the enmity of your heart against God 1. Could they that enticed you do as much for you or against you as God could Surely if you use this reasoning to be looked upon to be good natured persons you lay your selves open to a just Censure for folly Who that is wise will despise God to please man 2. If you are so good natured why don't you yield to God in his beseechings and entreaties you are stubborn wilful and stout enough here How earnestly hath God invited you to come to him he hath not failed in giving you suitable and proper encouragements God hath stood long entreating many years called with alâ—earnestness sent by many to perswade you 3. Others could not make you yield if Sin within did not entice you to a giving a consent Jam. 1.14 the Devil himself han't a power to make you yield it may be you say the Scripture seems to carry it in the favour of the young man spoken of in Prov. 7.21 that she forced him To that I say you would do well to consider that the Scripture relates it as preparing him for such wickedness and how fully he yielded 't is said he was one void of understanding one that had refused Christ as his Prophet that would not come to him for Eye salve and that he was out of his place and idling away his time seeking occasions of Sin he was passing through the Street near her corner and he went the way to her house and then that he goes after her straightway or suddenly as it may be rendred she did not pull and drag him along not forcibly drive him but he comes after not make a stand a stop or turn back but goes after her straightway and perseveres in the Sin 4. That God doth strike dead even such as these Prov. 7.23 God don't only take Vengeance on them that entice but on them that are enticed God gives you no reason by his dealings with such to hope that you may escape unpunished 10. You say the days are such days of Apostacy and the times so degenerate that you should be a meer laughing stock if you did not sin you are ready to say that you have found that the end of such mirth is heaviness Conscience hath galled accused condemned you for them but if you did decline wanton expressions and gestures you should make your selves a prey others would censure you as silly creatures not fit for Society if others would reform you would be glad to reform but as things are circumstanced you are afraid to reform 1. Better Sinners laugh at you here
Servants wantonly toying dallying one with another fooâ—ishly sporting on beds before their eyes unreproved Iâ— Parents and Heads of Families countenance and wink at such things I know no reason they have to exercise charity towards them that they won't play the Whoâ—e and be grosly Unclean out of their sight they are to blame that know their Children make themselves vile and restrain them not 4. That the case of some is exceeding hazzardous and full of danger they have the astonishing guilt of these Sins of Uncleanness Murder upon their Souls they have not only committed thâ—â—â— evils but have not repented of them have the guilt of these sins still lying upon their Souls If the Consciences of theâ—e are aâ—lâ—ep and they under security yet they are in hazzard and great danger It may be they sâ—id when they were tempted to these sins they would yield to them it would be only repenâ—ing of them afterwards Oh they are but a few who addict themselves to such a way and course of Sin that unâ—eignedly repent and turn to God Prov. 2.19 These had need to flie for refuge to escape for their lives 5. It s a thing much to be lamented that any among us at this day should be left to such Sins It s sorrowful to hear that Pagans and Papists should be guilty in these respects much more lamentable when any among our selves especially at this day are walking on in these ways God hath been hedging up our wayes with thorns to stop us in ways of sin shall any in such a day when God is purging us be thus Unclean Shall any contemn the Justice of God and flight his anger Rivers of tears should run down our eyes We should behold these Transgressors and be grieved USE II. Of Awakening to all that are guilty of these Sins Know it that for these things cometh the Wrath of God upon the children of Disobedience There is reason that such Sinners should tremble at the Wrath of God hear what the Text and Doctrine saith to such as you I would fain have charity that there is but one in this Assembly that hath been guilty of Murder in the highest degree of it yet I fear there are several that have Murdered in their hearts and some who have been guilty of interpretative Murder for hiding and concealing the Uncleanness of which this poor Condemned One was guilty before she became guilty of Murder for which she is to dye I fear the guilt of Innocent Blood lies also upon some that through a greedy desire to get gain have made drunk the heathen to the occasioning quarrels to death among themselves and ploddings of death to others Oh consider of the words and truth of God to you this day and labour to get a pardon for your Blood-guiltiness Here also is certainly matter of Awakening to all unclean Sinners Adulterers or Fornicators It may be there are not many before God that have before man been convicted of Uncleanness not many who have in the sight of man had Bastards laid to their charge yet to be feared much Uncleanness to be charged on several who are Whoremongers in the sight of God and exposed to this Wrath that you hear determined from the Lord God of Hosts against the Unclean Hear tremble all you Unclean Ones elder younger who have not only been in heart but actually unclean before the eye of your Judge How can you escape the Wrath of God under the guilt of these This Sin of Uncleanness is one great cause why the Land mourns this day and is a sin for which many will despairngly mourn at last unless they speedily repent This evil is thought to be a prevailing growing evil I shall therefore more specially have a regard to the guilty of Uncleanness in what remains Awakening 1. To all those who can commit this Sin with greediness and without remorse these have got the mastery of their consciences who can commit this sin without terror the wounds that this sin makes are not felt time was when the accusations of conscience made them tremble fill'd them with inward horror time was when they could not yield to lesser acts of Uncleanness without much difficulty from the arguing of a conscience informed from the Word of God But now they are greedy after the pleasures of sin will and can argue for Uncleanness and promise themselves security So the whorish Woman spoken of in Prov. 7.15 She becomes an Orator for it useth all her Eloquence to inveigle a companion doth not barely hint a desire of the commission of that sin but useth much fair speaking Now they can watch for fit seasons and for suitable companions Eph. 4.17 18. Fear of Hell a Religious Education fear of shame and reproach will do nothing to prevent the commission oâ— this Sin 2. To all those who are guilty of this Sin just after Sabbaths soon after they are comâ— from hearing the Word of God Some therâ— are who before they sleep or give themselveâ— rest in their beds are Unclean It s much to bâ— feared there are those who on the evenings aâ—ter Sabbaths are wanton and unclean who 〈◊〉 as though God had been giving them a Dispensation to be vile rather than exhorting of them to Holiness of Life and conversation How many who do in this way as it were bid defiance to God and say they don't value his word or like them the word that hath been spoken to us in the name of the Lord we will not do it but we will certainly do whatever goeth forth out of our own mouth such are surely impudent Prov. 7.14 15. 3. To all those who descend from Godly and Religious Parents who to the grief and against the Godly Warnings and admonitions of their pious Relations are Unclean 1 Sam. 27.25 Those may boast themselves of their priviledges and say they have Abraham to their Father but they are to God as Children of the Ethiopians hath not God in his Word said of such as you If they forsake me I will cast them off for ever Prov. 29.1 4. To all those who break their Covenant with God and man for the fruition of adulterous pleasure Mal. 2.14 Prov. 2.17 18. Fornication is not connived at by God but he is a swift witness against these Mal. 3.5 those who sin with so many aggravating and heightening circumstances as these can't be very long in filling up the measure of their Sin for a judicial process they have before witness on earth in the presence of God promised Chastity 5. To all those who condemn it in others and know that it hath brought down the Wrath of God upon them and yet live in it some that are guilty of this Sin cry out against others and speak as though the sorest punishment that could be thought of could not be too severe So did Judah when his daughter-in-law was guilty of Whoredom yet himself as deeply guilty Gen. 38.24 Surely these are inexcusably
any company or society when but a little of their sin is made known or but a few of their ungodly pranks brought to light but now all shall be made manifest to their everlasting disgrace 6. God won't design any good to you in any in all those sorrows and torments that you shall indure Here when God chastens he aims at profit he puts into the Furnace to puriâ—y but then his wrath will be a confirming fire Reprobate silver shall they be called God who was so long abused slighted and disregarded will not have one thought or intention to do you any good or to prepare you by these miseries for his favour He sentenceth to everlasting fire prepared for Devils You will be separated from all those that God designs good to the Judgments of God will be to make you miserable Oh! Consider of these things you that forget God least he tear you in pieces and there be none to deliver you It s an ease to the Spirits of many a man and woman under afflictions to have comfortable hopes and perswasions that God is carrying on a design of Love Grace to their Souls by such Dispensations that by these he is preventing worse Judgments 1 Cor. 11.32 but no ease can come to the Damned from any such consideration God never designs to bring them out of torment but the Smoke of their torment will ascend for ever and ever USE III. Of Warning To Warn all to take heed of those sin and to warn them that are guilty of them speedily to repent and fly to Christ for pardon and forgiveness 1. To warn every one of you to take heed of these sins 1. Or God may justly suffer you to be punished in the same way that you abuse others Job 30.10 God permits this many times by way of retaliation 2 Sam. 12.11 Hos. 4.12.15 they themselves had been unclean You would be far from taking pleasure in having these sins paid back into your own botomes to have Husbands or Wives to have Children Sons or Daughters left of God to Uncleanness but it would be a righteous thing with God to permit you to be exercised after such a sort 2. Or you will take a course to bring an unremoveable reproach blemish and spot on your selves Prov. 6.33 If you get a pardon as to everlasting punishment yet a spot will remain 1 King 15.5 Solomon tells you a Good Name is better than precious Oyntment I am sure they justly forfeit the reputation of wisdom that will part with a good name for the pleasures that are to be enjoyed in this way 3. Or the best that can be expected is sorrow unspeakably greater than any pleasure you can reap in this way of sinning Sorrow from the Judgments of God and that will be sure to overtake you in this life and rottenness of bones being brought to a morsel of bread How many heart distressing troubles was David followed with after he fell into these sins how was he punished in and from his own Children and how by his Subjects revolting Sorrows from the Influences of Gods Spirit in bringing to a sound repentance He tells of broken bones his moisture turned into the drought of Summer he lost the joy of Gods salvation Oh how will Conscience accuse and perplex who would undergo the horrors of Conscience that will fill the Soul of such to the causing of them to have a dreadful sound in their ears for all the delight that is this way to be enjoyed the Psalmist Psal 51. acquaints us how such pleasures bite at the last Cain says his punishment is greater then he can bear his guilty conscience makes him fear that every one that meets him is Gods Executioner 4. Or it 's to be feared that if once you yield that you will hold on in such wayes till Death overtake you Sinners are stupified that are left to these wayes of Sin You have heard that few are recovered by unfeigned repentance Stollen waters are so sweet and pleasant to ignorant carnal men who know not that the dead are there and that her guests are in the depths of hell that they oftimes go on till a dart strike thro' their liver Prov. 7.23 the young man had so much conscience left him that he would not yield till with much fair speaking he was sollicited and then he goes on till death these are oftimes so far besotted by their lusts that reproofs will be slighted by them Hos. 4.4 5. They are Sins that bring great wrath upon a Land Hos. 4.23 when the Sons of Eli had given themselves to these sins God was wrath and Thirty four thousand men fell in the Battle and the Ark of God was taken The wrath of God distresseth a Land where such Iniquities abound Wars Impoverishing Dispensations to many Families and Towns are the effects of Gods Anger stirred up 〈◊〉 kindled by such provocations Why should you rebel thus against the Lord and so provoke God to be wroth with the whole Congregation 6. Or you may fear that God will destroy you for defiling his Temple 1 Cor. 13.17 Direction 1. Don't disobey Gods Counsels and walk contrary to them in refusing Christ Psal. 81.11 12. they take a direct course to fall into these abominations to their everlasting contempt that cast contempt upon the Word of God and on his Son A Christless Soul can have no assurance that he shall not be left finally to the worst abominations Prov. 2 10.16â— Prov. 5.12 13. 2. Don't rely on your own wisdom to be security to you from these abominations but endeavour to have your ways such as may please God Eccl. 7.22 Some are ready to say as Hazael are we Doggs that we should do such things and yet both do them and have pleasure in them that do them Yea though they know the Judgments of God against them who do such things Solomons Wisdom was no preventive grace it self is no preservative from foul acts of sin where persons are carnally confident of their own strength Peter after his boasts is so scared by a sorry damsâ—l that he denies Christ and Curses and Swears See that your wayes are well pleasing to God that you may be kept by the mighty power of God through faith to Salvation 3. Abstain from all appearance and leading causes to such sins don't come â—igh the door of her house don't be out in evenings among foolish vain jolly company when you should be in your Closets and on your knees before God Prov. 5.8 9. Prov. 4.14 1â— the young man spoken of Prov. 7.1 was going the way to her house in the black and dark night he is insnared Prov. 17.18 19 21. beware and take heed of Idleness as that which will occasion your sinning after this sort Usually Unclean persons are idle persons there was abundance of Uncleanness in Sodom and that because there was abundance of Idleness Ezek. 16.49 beware of drinking away your precious time Drunkenness ushers in Murder and
WARNINGS TO THE Unclean IN A DISCOURSE From Rev. XXI 8. Preacht at Springfield Lecture August 25 th 1698. At the Execution of Sarah Smith By Mr. John Williams Pastor of the Church at Deerfield Boston Printed by B. Green and J. Allen for Michael Perry at his Shop over-against the Town-House 1699. THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE HENRY STEVENS of Vermont FSA c. 4 Trafalgar Square London 1882 TO THE READER ALthough in the Popish Sense we mâ—y allow no sin to be Venial For the wages of every sin is death yet there are doubtless degrees in sin some are in their nature circumstances more peculiarly aggravated and expose to a much sorer Condemnation Among which may be reckoned those which are not only violations of positive Precepts but of the very dictates and law of nature in such sins there is both a contempt of the Divine Authority and a great deal of violence offered to Conscience which would restrain from the commission of them and is a plain demonstration of prevailing Atheism of the heart and mighty power and love of sin in it to over-bear the light they have but that such sins should be committed under the clear light of the Gospel shews men to be wholly without excuse It therefore is and ought to be for a lamentation that though we live in such an Age of the World wherein the Light of the Gospel shines with greater clearness probably then it ever did since the first revelation of it yea in days too wherein the Wrath of God is revealed from heaven against the unrighteousness of men That in such days there should be found so many sad instances of these horrid and unnatural sins of Murther and Uncleanness but especially of this latter that there is ground to fear that it hath been one of the things for which God hath so long had a controversie with the Land As for what is obvious to men of this nature we have reason to hope that the Land is free from the guilt of it by the vigilance and faithfulness of those to whom God hath committed the Sword of Justice but there are many things of this nature secret which the method of God in his Judgments seems directly to point at It is noted among the procuring causes of Israels miseries 2 King 17.9 That the Children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right in the sight of the Lord probably this may reâ—err to what we read in 1 King 14.24 There were Sodomites in the land However that be it 's certain the Prophets reckon up the sins of Whoredom and Adultery among the black Catalogue of their abominations and the causes of their calamities Jer. 5.7 They assembled themselves by troops in Harlots houses and Hos. 4.11 Whorâ—dom and Wine take away the heart these are such things as defile the Land where-ever they are committed and will certainly procure an increase of Judgments unless repentance prevents whensoever God in his just Wrath leaves any to be monuments of shame ignominy before the world it is a loud call to all who lye under such guilt to be speedy and thorough in repentance God both requires and expects it should be so Deut. 13.11 All Israel shall hear and fear and do no more presumptuously on which account it seems very sutable to accompany such sad instances with solemn warnings that those who are under the like guilt may be awakened and others may be awed and it is especially needful that persons be put in remembrance of the dreadful consequence of these things in the world to come in comparison of which the greatest shame and severe penalties here are as nothing and as the Judgment of God is more severe so it is more certain he hath positively declared Heb. 13.4 Whoremongers and adulterers God will Judge these works of darkness may escape the notice so the Judgment of men but there will be no escaping the Judgment of God there is no darkness or shadow of death where the workers of Iniquity may hide themselves the eye of God follows men into their darkest recesses and he will surely have a day to bring to light the hidden things of darkness To promote these Ends it is that many of the Hearers of the following sollid and seasonable Warning delivered just before the Execution of a person convicted of these horrid sins of Murther and Adultery have desired the publication of it to which the Author hath consented being desirous to further the right Improvement of such a sad Example to deter others from the like abominations As for the person Executed for these sins she is an awful instance of the infatuating hardening and stupifying power of this bruitish Sin of Uncleanness her love to frequent practice of it having occasioned her stifling many convictions contracted a fearful stupidity and sottishness upon her near the approaches of death It is earnestly to be wished that such Warnings and Examples might not be in vain that all would so improve them that we might see no more such Examples To conclude therefore let me perswade all to consider the heinous nature and dreadful effects of these sins the Apostle gives a particular account hereof 1 Cor. 6.9 13 14 15 16 17. It s a sin against a mans own body it is a defiling of that which should be the temple of God it is a Sin loathsome in it self and makes those who are guilty of it loathsome to God and to men too when it is discovered it is a sin that is ordinarily the punishment of other sins Prov. 23.27 A Whore is a deep ditch and a narrow pit the abhorred of the Lord shall fall therein It is a Sin that dreadfully hardens and besots those who are guilty of it Prov. 21.9 't is said of the Harlot nâ—ne that go in unto her return again neither take they hold of the path of life 2. That persons would more carefully avoid the inducements to this Sin which are too common Such are over cosâ—ly light garish Attire impudent and immodest carriages filthy communications idleness intemperance by which the body is inflamed and modesty banished the command that forbids the acts of Uncleanness forbids also the occasions and tendencies to it and unless there be a tenderness and watchfulness to avoid these there will be little hopes that gross pollutions will be avoided Thus commending the following Warnings to the Blessing of God and to the serious consideration of the Rising Generation I am Your Souls well-wisher W. Williams WARNINGS TO ALL Unclean Persons Rev XXI 8. But the fearful and unbelieving and the abominable and murderers and whoremongers and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire brimstone which is the second death SInners promise themselves a great deal of pleasure satisfaction and delight in the ways of Disobedience to the holy Commands of God but the destinations and appointments of God to them are far
these their sins are of a scarlet and crimson dye aggravated iniquities filling up the measure of other sins not barely transgressions and violations of a holy Law of God but breaches of his Law with such aggravations that ripen for Damnation 1. Uncleanness is an aggravated iniquity filling up the measure of other sins Prov. 2.18 this appears 1 In that it is a sin that God leaves the abhorred of his Soul and reprobates to a wallowing and continuing in Eccles. 7.26 Prov. 22.14 A Sin that he leaves them to that he never intends good to these are left of God to go the way to Hell and not escaping these sins they may not think to escape damnation Prov. 7.27 Prov. 5.5 these expressions that the abhorred of the Lord shall fall therein plainly intimates that many previous and foregoing sinful courses have provoked God to jealousie and hot displeasure and that he will leave them to this sin to prepare them for a day of Vengeance 2. A Sin that takes away the heart from God and that which is good Hos. 4.11 It alienates and estrangeth the heart from God and the holy Commandment it causeth sinners to disregard and slight promises and threatnings it takes away the heart from thinking and meditating of God and his Word from delighting in God and his Commandments from contriving and studying how to please God and obey his voice so that they will not hearken to his voice they will none of him when the heart is thus taken off from God and that which is good the measure of sin will be filled up apace Prov. 2.17 3. In that they are addicted and accustomed to this Sin are hardened persons and seldome truly repent Prov. 2.19 Prov 7.13.23 the Scripture speaks of these as the most impudent and shameless sinners yea as those that refuse to be ashamed many of these past feeling Eph. 4.18 19. Now when any are hardened from Gods fear they will fall into mischief and the heart of those will be set in them to do evil 4. A Sin that hath ruined and made desolate Nations and Lands guilty of it It drowned the Old World it brought down Fire and Brimstone on Sodom and Gomorrah Gen 19.13 Sodom had many other sins as Pride Idleness c Gluâ—tony but this sin of Uncleanness made it a desolation and a sin that eternally ruins and undoes the Soul Prov. 6.32 2. Murder is an aggravated Sin filling up the meaâ—uâ—e of other sins other sins treasure up wrath against the day of wrath This sin ripens for cutting down finisheth the transgression and brings forth death this appears in 1. That the cry of this sin pierceth the very heavens and brings down the Curse of God Gen. 4 10 11. he sinned in his wrath against his Brother he finished that sin in the murder of him God admonished and warned him for his passionateness and angryness but when he had committed this sâ—n saith God Thou art cursed from the earth 2. Inasmuch as usually they are hardened against Gods â—ear and contemners of God that are thus guilty Gen. 4.9 he doth not fall down and cry out against himself for his own guiltiness but as though it were a light thing to break with God he adds sin to sin he lies to hide his murder and takes up God disdaiâ—fully Am I my Brothers Keeper A Parent a Master a Prince would account such language from a Child Servant or Subject unallowable sawciness and contempâ— He speaks as though it was an affront to put such a question to him and therefore after God denounced a Curse on him he doth not bewail the greatness of his sin he doth not relent or manifest sorrow that he had sinned against God as he had done only faith My punishment is greater than I can bear and instead of busying his mind to get his sin pardoned by building a City he diverts his mind from contemplating on his guiltiness 3. In that God will not permit Murderers to liâ—e here but causeth them to dy before their time Blood thirsty men shall not live out half their days Exod. 21.14 Flying to the horns of the Altar shall be no sanctuary or security to them Numb 35.31 there can be no compensation mâ—de for the explaâ—ing of guilt as to this life God will have no man plead that the natural life of such aâ— one may be spared Prov. 28.17 4. In that a whole Land cannot be innocent but polluted that suffer innocent blood to cry against it in neglecting the Execution of Justice for such a transgression In that a whole Land shall smart for sparing a convicted Murderers Life When Murder is uncertain as to the author of it see what is incumbent on a people for the preventing the Wrath of God Deut. 21.1 â—â— 10. A people have no reason to expect that it will goe well with them liâ— they neglect execution of Judgment for this sin Deut. 19.11 12 13. Numb 35.33 the conniving at and suffering of such sins greatly moved God to wrath against Israel Jer. 2.34 5. In that the very light of nature teacheth that God is not wont to suffer this Sin to go unrevenged Acts 28.4 the Wrath of God is not only revealed from Scripture light against this Sin but the Barbarians by the light of nature judge it too great an offence for the Judge of the World to permit long unrevenged here USE I. Of Information 1. What great reason they have to be humbly thankful to God that are restrained and kept from these Sins Every one by nature hath the seeds of all Sin and disobedience Its God that witholds all as well as Ahimelech Gen. 20.6 Religious Education our own wisdom and resolutions can't restrain even from such wickedness Its God that makes us to differ one from another that keeps from such pollutions many of the Wise and Learned of the World many that make a profession have been guilty We are not to be unthankful for restraining gracâ— we are humbly to acknowledg God when he keeps back from presumptuous sins 2. What great reason Ministers Parents and Heads of Families have to warn all under their Charge against and to restrain them from such sinful practices and courses These Sins will not only expose theirs to such calamities in this life that will make the ears of them that hear to tingle but render them obnoxious to Eternal Damnation 3. How they are to blame who suffer and permit such things under their eye and roof that are leading occasions to such Sins They are to blame that suffer and allow their Children and Servants in the black and dark night to be absent from the Religious Orders of their Families to be going the way to such houses they are to be reproved who bring up their Children and Families in Idleness which doth occasion the abounding of sin even this sin of Uncleanness Idleness occasioned Sodâ—ms being so vile Heads of Families are to be reproved that see Young Ones Children or
guilty and in very great hazard and danger of being filled with the Wrath of God Rom. 1.32 Rom. 3.1 2 3 these â—o as it were Justifie those that have been guilty after God hath punished them and slight the Justice of God therefore you find God so sharply reproving these and declaring these more abominable in his sight Ezek. 16.47 53. Jer. 3.7 12. God is not wont to suffer such that harden their hearts against Examples of Wrath on others to escape his Wrath. Dan. 5.22 6. To them that live in Uncleanness whilst they make a high profession of Godliness they come and sit at the Table of the Lord and yet wallow in Uncleanness God that sees what they do in Secret sayes Shall not my Soul be Avenged of such as these Oh! in what great danger are Church Member Unclean persons If God will answer them according to their Abominations who set up their Idols in their hearts and put the stumbling block of their Iniquity beforâ— their face when they come to enquire of a Prophet Ezek. 14 4. What will the end of these â—e 〈◊〉 These have had impressions made by the Spiriâ— of God from the word on their Consciences and have been like the Earth that drinketh iâ— the Rain that cometh oft upon it and iâ— they do after all this continue to bring â—ortâ— briars and thorns may they not look upoâ— themselves nigh to cursing Heb. 6.8 7 To all those whom God hath suffered to escape long Unpunished in the pursuit of Unclean delights an awful symptome and grounâ— of fear that God intends to punish them Eternally Oh! many are glad at heart that they can sin unpunished and not be brought to shame and smart for it here truly such have awful ground to fear that God intends to Damn them Eternally The letting of Sinnerâ— go unpunished is threatned as one of the foresâ— Calamities inflicted in this world for the preparing of the Sinner for endless Torment Hosâ— 4.14 17. Let such read Rom. 9.22 23. And seâ— if they have any reason to account it any part of their happiness that they are suffered of God to escape long unpunished in such a way of sinning 8. To all those who cover their Uncleannesses with Lies to the doubling of their guiltiness These take a course to carry the guilt of their doings into another world with them Those that commit Adultery and walk in Lies will be as Sodom to God Jer. 23.14 Prov. 19.5 They are doubly an Abomination to God the Text doth once and again threaten those persons Here 's nothing but matter of awakening and terrour to all Unclean persons older or younger God saith that he will punish such as you are He will take you into his own hands Heb. 13.4 Oh! what reason have you to tremble and be afraid your Sin is Damning The damage it doth you is not only in this life and on your bodies but it destroyes your Souls and that Eternally Consider that Eternal Separation from God and every act of disobedience receiving a meet reward will make you perfectly miserable Here consider for your awakening 1. That the pleasures of sin will be dear bought You are now resolved to live a life of pleasure You are doubly guilty of folly as well as wickedness you make choice of pleasures that lye in common with bruits and refuse the joys of holiness and communion with God You chuse also those that you can enjoy but for a season they will be but as the crackling of thorns under a pot and they will cost you the loss of all happiness and the sustaining all misery You live a jolly jocund life now but what will you do in the end thereof Madness in your hearts whilst you live and after that you go to the dead 2. That God wont punish you for one sin only or but for a few but for all He will remember all your Iniquities and visit all your sins Eccles. 11.9 Amos 3.2 All your Uncleanness all your Sabbath Pollutions all your Sinful thoughts words and actions Oh! you will find it a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God under the guilt of Innumerable sins Can your hands and hearts indure under this Can you bear the wrath of God for numberless transgressions 3 God wont only bring you into misery but the Cup shall be full of wrath without any mixture of mercy that he will make you take and drink down Wrath wont fall heavily only on one member of the body but all not only on the body but Soul and Body too No friends to pitty you pray for you no comforts of this life to comfort you Rev. 14.10 Oh! how hard do afflictions sometimes come upon you now you say you can't live long under them if they are continued and yet you have many mercies mixt with your bitterest afflictions many comforts But then forsaken of all nothing but wrath not one single mercy 4. God will have no regard to any thing you can devise to alleviate your pain He will take no notice of any of the prayers you made or profession you made of Religion If you took lamps and went forth to meet the Bridgroom if you eat and drunk at his Table if in his Name you cast out Devils if you gave of your Estate to charitable uses if your Estate were laid out for the maintaining and upholding the Ordinances of God Worship and your natural or acquired parts and abilities were improved for the good of Gods Church your wisdom and your courage improved many years for the preservation and defence of Gods people it would not be Esteemed by God to prevent your Torment Matt. 7.21 22 23. and Matt. 25.12 God wont regard the Prayers of the most holy Ministers and Relations that prayed for you to ease you of your pains Jer. 15.1 Ezek. 14.14 God wont regard your earnest pleadings Matt. 25.11 12. Dives can't get one drop of water with all his pleadings Your descending from Godly Parents and that you were the Children of the Covenant won't procure any abatement of pain The rich man crying out in torment though he crys Father Abraham and is called Son yet hath no ease Luk. 16.25 5. God won't only rank your sins before your eyes but he will make them manifest to your contempt before the world God will reprove you and set your sins in order before your eyes when he comes to execute Vengeance as Matt. 25 41. Psal. 50.21 22. He will also make known to the world what manner of persons you were to your disgrace and reproach Psal. 52.6 7. Luk. 12.2 3. All your Secret sins wicked thoughts your Hypocrisy and Apostacy will all be proclaimed before all the world You would be ashamed to be seen in any company if the wickedness of your hearts and thoughts if the wickedness committed by you in Secret were known to all Oh! how do those that seemed to be without shame hang down their heads How shy are they of
Adultery Drunkards are often Unclean 4. Beware of giving way to other sins against the motions and strivings of Gods Spirit So did this poor Condemned Woman before she was left of God to this Sin of Murder for which She must Dye So did Herod and he imprisoned and murdered John the Baptist. Seven worse and more wicked Spirits often enter into such and so their last end is worse than their beginning Mat. 12.44 45. 5. Consider that all your ways are before God and the darkness hideth not from him Prov. 5.21 6. Beware of indulging your selves in secret sins you must endeavour to be cleansed from secret faults if you would not have presumptuous sins have dominion over you 2. To warn them that have fallen into these sins not to delay repentance to beware of doing any thing to the continuing of the guilt of these sins upon your Souls and Consciences Oh hasten escape for your lives fly for refuge to Christ. Look not back with a desire after them 1 You have been antecedently guilty of many other sins ripening you for these besides the guilt of these sins you have the guilt of many other 2. God will else tear you in pieces and none shall deliver you Psal. 50.22 3. All your former righteousness and religigiousness will be disowned if you live impenitent under these sins Ezek. 18.24 32 12 13. 1. Remember them against your selves so as to be heartily judging and condemning of your selves for them If you would not have God to loath you loath and abhor your selves for your Violations of his holy Law If you would not have God remember against you former iniquities you must remember them against your selves Your iniquities must be before you and you must be judging your selves before God for them So did Ezra Chap. 9.15 So did David Psal. 51.3 4. This we are counselled to 1 Cor. 11.31 Thus did repenting Ephraim Jer. 31.18 2 Follow and trace the footsteeps of these your sins till you find out your Original Sin your impure Nature Psa. 51.5 Unless men come to see and know the plague of their own hearts they will be partial and feigned in their repentance They that dont turn with their whole hearts will fall back again when a suitable Temptation and Occasion is offered and presented 3. Beware that you dont flatter your selves as though you had repented before you have repentance is not a saying before God with tears that you are sorry for your transgressions many turn but not to the most High 4. See that Christ as a Sanctifier and Justifier be sought after by you in respect of the guilt you lie under you had need improve Christ as a Justifier and as an Advocate Oh! then go to Christ as to him who only can Justify acquit and absolve you from the guilt of Sin 1 Joh. 2.1 2. Joh. 1.29 From the consideration of the Power and Dominion of Sin you have need of Christ as your only Sanctifier Your Prayers Reformations Tears won't Justifie you Christ must be a Satisfyer for you or Gods Justice can't be Satisfyed And you have no way to get power against corruption but by going to Christ as your Sanctification Your Vows Promises Resolutions Fastings won't mortifie and kill any one sin in you 't is Christ must subdue your Sin in you and for you 5. Improve present influences from the Spirit of God to draw you to Christ. Unless God by his Spirit draw you you will never come to the Son the Number of your Sins won't make you go to Christ the Greatness of your Sins won't make you go to Christ natural desires of happiness and escaping Wrath Hell won't bring you to Christ these may cause you to play the Hypocrite but they won't bring you to Christ times of common Calamity Judgment won't drive you to Christ thoughts and apprehensions of Deaths drawing near and just at hand ready to arrest you won't prevail with you to go to Christ. You that delay and put off your repentance when God is striving with you take heed you can't convert your selves when you will without Gods Spirit Look upon this poor object before your eyes and then consider whether any or all the forementioned things will make you fly to Christ. Improve the Spirit while it is at work on your Souls 6. Beware that you don't hearken to vain words and reasonings tending to the lessening of your guiltiness and your danger of Gods wrath and Judgment Eph. 5.6 Oh! know that for these things cometh the wrath of God upon the Children of disobedience And since the Apostle hath cautioned thus as to this sin I would particularly warn you to take heed that you don't by vain reasonings prevent your speedy repenting and turning to God And shall in a few particulars shew you the Vanity of such reasonings as have a tendency to extenuate and lessen your sin and danger that you may not hearken to them and deceive your own Souls 1. Some are ready to reason away apprehensions of Divine anger because 't is so long since they were guilty of them if they had committed these sins to day yesterday or but a few weeks ago they should be afraid and concerned to get them pardoned but it s so long since that they have almost forgotten them and if God had been much provoked he would not have born with them thus long 1. Consider God remembers them all as though committed but yesterday they are sealed up among his hid treasures God said Psal. 50. That he can set them in order before the sinners eyes God won't only punish for a few of your latter sins only but for all If they were committed when you were Young he hau 't forgot them for he sayes He will bring you into Judgment for all your Youthful sins Eccle. 11.9 They that have gone to God aright have gone for the pardon of former sins sins of Youth as well as latter transgressions 2. God punisheth some men a long time after they have committed their sins 'T is true because Sentence against an evil work is not speedily executed that the hearts of the Sons of men are set in them to do evil it s no argument that you shall escape punishment because God hath not yet punished you Though God did not destroy the people in the Wilderness presently but bore with their evil manners for forty years yet he wasted that Generation Hear what God sayes Exod. 32.32 God waited on and warned his people for twenty three years by his Prophet and yet after all he destroyed them in his anger Jer. 25.3 7. Jude verse 5. 2 Pet. 2.9 3. It may be you have been under a Judicial process ever since Sinners are sometimes stupid and don 't observe the Strokes of God upon them hear how unobservant they were that had been for so long a time under a course of Judgment Jer. 44.19 compared with 20â—â—â—24 The Judgments of God are sometimes more Spiritual and so
never I would offer some things to your consideration for your conviction of guiltiness and need you have to get your peace made with God You are by nature a Child of Wrath and guilty of Adams Sin you brought a guilty defiled Soul into the world with you You were shapen in Iniquity and in Sin did your Mother conceive you You have long refused and slighted Jesus Christ and would none of him as your Prophet your Priests and your King and so are under a Sentence of Death from the Gospel as well as the Law by your unbelief you have sealed down the Wrath of God upon your own Soul you have fallen also into great Land-polluting moral evils Lying Stealing Adultery and Murder You would not hearken to the voice of your eminently pious Father-in law warning of you You have accustomed your self to these ways of sin tho' you Lived under the convincing preaching of the Gospel You closed your eyes and would not see tho' for many years you Lived under an eminently Soul-searching Ministry you have given up your self to these sins in the day that God was pleading his Controversie and hedging up your ways with thorns in the day of the Lords anger you have sinned more and more when God had driven you out of one Plantation into another by the Enemy when God had taken away your first Husband by Death and suffered your second to be carried into Captivity when he was in bondage you were wantonly doting on your Lovers yea though you could not look out an your door but the Garrison and Souldiers before your eyes proclaimed it to be a day of Gods anger your sin is very great in your violating your Marriage Covenant You have relapsed after God filled your Soul with horror for these abominations and turned again as a Sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire You refused to be prevented from Murder by covering your Adultery with lying though so solemnly admonished and cautioned You have unnaturally murdered the fruit of your own body what in you lay its Soul have abused patience and long suffering exercised towards you of God multiplying lying and hardening your heart have not feared God being under a righteous Condemnation and Sentence of Death but to this day continued in lying You have slighted the Word of God quenched the Spirit of God refused Christ and have by these things filled up the measure of your sins so that you must Dye that the Land be not guilty None may stay you from death and suffer you to live least the Land be greatly polluted And you are now Enjoying your last Opportunity in Gods House you that have idled slept away yea whored away part of so many Sabbaths and Lectures shall have no more You that have disregarded Gods Counsels how righteously might God say I will laugh at your calamity and mock when your fear comesâ— Yet he sayes after all these things turn Jer. 3.7 For the life of your body your case is hopeless Your sin is so heinous that your life can't be saved without injustice Well then since you can't live guiltless labour to die penitent since your Body can't be saved alive endeavour that your Soul may be saved alive in death there is yet a possibility that your Soul may be saved See Prov. 1.20 22 23 24. Jesus Christ the essential wisdom calls after such an one as you to come to him though you have been long sinning lov'd and delighted in sinning yea tho' you have hated knowledge you are called upon encouraged to come God in Christ is shewing how ready he is to show you mercy upon your repentance and to help you in your repentance he offers you the best help and help suitable Oh then come away to Jesus Christ now left upon your refusal the after verses be made good against your Soul Direction Come away to Christ now upon the call and encouragement of the Gospel Stay away no longer Don't think your Prayers good promises and others praying for you will save you But hasten away to Christ There is no other Name given whereby you can be saved Act. 4.12 And no other way of being saved by Christ than by coming to him or believing on him You are called this day in an Ordinance of Christ to come for Reconciliation 1 Cor. 5.19 Christ came to save guilty sinners It s a faithful saying and worthy of your acceptation that Christ came into the World to save Sinners chief of Sinners The greatest sinners have been justified in this way 1 Cor. 6.11 So Manasseh that shed much innocent blood Consider for your encouragement that Christ fully accepts of them that ran far from him that refused to come as long as they could retain any hopes of being saved in any other way upon their coming to him Luke 15. God won't upbraid you upon your coming Jam. 1.5 Yea he that comes unto me I will in no wise cast out though he have been a great and an old Sinner though he have sinned away many Convictions yet if he come he shall have mercy Christ Jesus calls you to come not to sell you pardon but give you Grace Matth. 11.29 I will give you rest Christ aimes at your present gain and not at his own and therefore if you have no money yet you may have the mercy you want Isa. 55.1 Consider 1. That Christ don't call you to come to him to be Punished but Pardoned Christ in the Gospel comes to you to save you calls you to come to him to be pardoned It s true if you refuse the calls of Christ in this life he will call you in the next life to be punished and condemned Oh! Christ calls you and you need not be afraid to come to him now for he doth not call you to come to be punished for sins alâ—eady committed but that he may pardon and forgive them blot oâ—t the hand-writing of Ordinances that was against you May you have a free and full pardon of so many and great sins upon coming then delay no longer 2. Jesus Christ calls you to come not to pass a Sentence of Death upon you but to take it off from you There will be no Condemnation against your Soul when once you are gotten into Christ. Rom. 8.1 yea Christ says such shall not enter into Condemnation for they are passed from death to life there is a sentence of death gone out against you in the Law 't is a holy and righteous sentence too now the Gospel offers no mercy to the repealing and taking off this Sentence of Condemnation without coming to Christ. 3. Christ calls you to come to him not to shut you up in the Prison of Hell but to set you at liberty Oh! Christ would bring you out of the pit wherein is no water for Christ received a Commission from the Father to proclaim liberty and the opening of the prison doors to them that are shut up Isa. 61.1 2.
the prison and dungeon of Hell is the place you will assuredly be shut up in if you stay away from Christ but the Son will set you at liberty if you come to him who don't chuse liberty and enlargement before prisons and dungeons 4. Christ calls you not to feed you with the bread and water of Affliction but to feast you Rev. 3.20 Luk. 15.23 Here 's bread which if you eat of you shall never hunger Is not bread to the hungry Soul desireable Why should you stay away when you are ready to perish with hunger Christ Jesus will feast you if you come to him Christ hath Spiritual delicacies to entertain you withal 5. Jesus Christ don't call you to cloath you with Raggs and bring you to shame and disgrace but to cloath you with his righteousness Christ won't take away any thing that is good and desireable and worth keeping but to give you Grace and Glory Nor to speak angrily but to speak comfortably to you not to put you to drudgery and ignominious service for ever but to stand before him to do him Service in Praising and Glorifying his Name See what you are counsel'd to come to Christ for Rev. 3.18 1. Come to him for that which he came into the World for to be your Sanctifier to have Sin taken away that he would give you repentance Christ is Exalted at the right hand of the Father to give repentance unto Israel and remission of sins God hath sent him to bless his people in turning them from their iniquities His Name is JESUS and he will Save them that come unto him from their sins You want Christ for this how can you else think of going into the holy Heavens Nothing that defiles enters there Without Holiness you can't see God Oh! then let that be upon your Soul to have Christ for Sanctification 2. Come to him as a poor guilty polluted Creature come therefore self Condemned They that come because they have made so many Prayers and have gotten something good are not like to be accepted Remember the poor Publican that went down to his house justifyed he was one that smites upon his breast the Lord be merciful to me a Sinner he don't say be merciful to me who was once a great Sinner but I have reformed my life I have made many an affectionate prayer I have taken a great deal of pains but he comes as guilty sayes not a word to justify himself So the Prodigal when he come home he comes judging condemnning himself for what he had done that he was so guilty that God might now justly put him by he does not say I did displease but I have now done something to turn away thine anger and to procure thy favour See what he sayes Luk. 15.18 19 21. And yet â—â—e what wellcome he met with Verse â—2 And don't you think to go because you have sorrowed mourned and kept from Sinful coâ—â—â—es See how David went to God Psal. 51.3 4. 3. Come as a helpless shiâ—tless lost Creature Oh! Consider that in him the Fâ—â—â—erless findeth Mercy As one that must have all â—â—om Christ. Oh! go to him as one that is lost and knows not what to do of your self Christ came to seek and save the lost 4. Justifie God in all his comminations threatnings and curses against sin and sinners So did David Psal. 51.4 5. Come to him from the encouragements of the Gospel from what encouragements Christ gives you in his Word nor because you have gotten a heart to haâ—e sin love God or because you are not quite so bad as you have been 6 Come to him to be Saved from the wickedness of your heart Oh that you may be Saved from the unbelief hypocrisie worldliness hardness and carnality of your heart So did David Psal. 51.1 Create in me a câ—ean heart 7. Come to him with a desire to be put into his Service to do work for him so did the Prodigal make me as one of thy hired Servants You will say what work can I do that am just going out of the world Oh consider that you may Serve Christ in making confession of you sin warning of others justifying God oh come away consider that Christ will call to you from off the Mercy Seat no more after a few hours if you refuse now how will you dare to make your appearance before the Throne of Justice If you are afraid to come to Christ so affectionately calling you to come to him where he is Sitting on his Throne of Mercy holding forth the Scepter of Divine Grace Oh! Come behold now even now is yet an accepted time Come and give your self to Jesus Christ. Oh! Lift up your heart to God to draw you to turn you and we will lift up our hearts and desires to God with you and for you that he would draw and turn you FINIS